Car-axle box



(No Model.)

i S. COLLINS. GAR AXLB BOX.

No. 573,391. Patented Dec. 1.5, 1896.

mlm

of Oregon, have invented a new and useful tail perspective view of the rear section of the UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN COLLINS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,391., dated December 15, 1896.

Application filed April 30, 1896,.

T0 all whom, t may oolwcrn:

Be it known that l, STEPHEN COLLINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State Car-Axle Box, of which the following is a specification. Y

The invention relates to improvements in axle-boxes.

The objects of the present invention are to improve the construct-ion of axle-boxes, more especially the back portion thereof, to reduce the perforation of' the latter, and to exclude dust more eectually, and prevent the wasting of a lubricant.

A further object of the invention is to enable the dust-guard to be conveniently removed and applied Without detaching the jou rnal-box and Without tilting the latter and spilling the lubricant.

Another object of the invention is to enable the dust-guard and the dust-guard chamber to conform to the vertical and lateral movement of an axle in order to preserve at all times a close joint between the dust-guard and the dust-guard seat of the axle.

The invention consistsl in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an axle-box constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4. is a deaxle-box, illustrating the construction of the dust-guard chamber. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the dust-guard.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates an axle or journal box adapted to receive a journal 2 and provided with the usual j ournal-bearings 3 and j ournal-bearing keyl. The journal-box is composed of a body portion 5 and a yieldingly-mounted rear section 6, forming a dust-guard chamber and capable of a limited vertical and lateral movement to accommodate itself to the movements Serial No. 589,713` (No model.)V

of a journal resultingfrom Wear of the journalbearing 3 and the application of a brake. As the j ou rnal-bearing becomes worn the journal has a slight vertical play, and when a brake is applied the journal receives a slight lateral thrust, but by yieldingly mounting the dustguard chamber and the dust-guard the latter is adapted to conform to the movements of y the journal to prevent any space or opening occurring at any time between it and the dustguard seat of the axle.

The body of the journal-box, which is provided at its back with a transverse partition or diaphragm '7, and which has an enlarged elliptical opening or perforation therein for the passage of the axle, is provided at opposite sides with vertical flanges 8, arranged a short distance from the back or rear face of the body portion of the journal to provide recesses 9 and having central enlargements or bosses 10, and the flanges or ribs 8 are preferably continued across the journal-box at the bottom thereof, as shown.

The rear section 6 is provided with a rectangular recess to form the dust-guard chamber 11, and it is provided at opposite sides with vertical flanges l2, fitting against the flanges 8 of the body portion of the journalbox and fitting in the recesses 9. The recesses 9 form vertical ways for the reception of the flanges 12, and a sufficient space is left between the inner edges of the flanges-12 and the adjacent shoulders, formed by the recesses 9, to allow the rearsection of the journal-box alimitedlateralmovelnent. The Ways formed by the recesses 9 are open at the top .and bottom, and the rear face of the body between the said ways is smooth and vertical.

The flanges 12 of the rear section 6 are provided With central enlargements or bosses 13, similar to the enlargements or bosses 10 of the flanges 8, and these bosses or enlargements 10 and 13 are provided with elliptical openings or perforations 14; and l5 for the reception of fastening devices 16, disposed horizontally and located at opposite sides of the journal-box. The fastening devices 16 preferably consist of bolts provided a-t their rear ends with heads and receiving nuts 17 at their front ends, and spiral springs 18 are arranged on the front portions of the fastening devices IOO and interposed between the nuts and the ilanges 8 of the journal-box, whereby the rear section of the journal-box is yieldingly connected with the body portion thereof. The elliptical openings permit a limited lateral and vertical movement of the fastening devices to allow a movement of the body of the journal-box and the rear section thereof, and the springs will preserve a tight joint between the parts and will take up any wear of the same.

The fastening devices may be provided, if desired, at their front ends with keys or the like to prevent the nuts from accidentally unscrewing, and the rear or outer face of the rear section of the axle or journal box is provided at opposite sides with recesses for the reception of the heads of the bolts to prevent the heads of the bolts from projecting outward beyond the rear face of the rear section and comingin contact with the hub of a wheel.

The dust-guard chamber is adapted to receive an ordinary dust-guard 19, which may be constructed of any suitable material and which may be of any desired form. The form shown in the accompanying drawings is the one usually employed, and it is rectangular and provided with a circular opening itting closely against the dust-guard seat 2O of the axle. The rear section of the axle or journal box is provided with a circular opening 2l, which is slightly larger than the dust-guard seat of the axle.

The d ust-guard has its inner face i'lush with the adjacent inner bearing-face (5 of the rear section 6, between the flanges thereof, and the inner face of the dust-guard and the inner bearing-face G of the rear section 6, fit flat against the vertical rear face oi' the body of the journal-box, between the ways thereof, and are adapted to slide vertically and laterally thereon without the dust-guard being released or in any wise loosened.

Vhen it is desired to renew the dust-guard, the fastening devices 16 are removed, the dust-guard is cut into two sections or portions, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, and by this means the dust-guard may be applied to the journal or axle box without removing the same from the axle and Without tilting the box or spilling the lubricant contained therein.

It will be seen that the back of the journal or axle box is absolutely dust-proof, that the dust-guard may be conveniently removed and applied Without detaching the j ournal-box or tilting the same and spilling` the lubricant, and that the dust-guard and the dust-guard chamber are yieldingly mounted and permit a limited vertical and lateral movement to conform to the movements of an axle, occa- Sioned by wear of the journal-bearing and the application of a brake.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention.

That I claim is- 1. A journal-box comprising a body provided at its back with vertical recesses extending from the top to the bottom ofthe j ournal-box and forming ways open at the ends, said body having its rear face, between the ways, smooth and vertical, a dust-guard, a rear section completing the back of the journal-box and provided at its inner face with a dust-guard chamber or recess receiving the dust-guard and having the inner face thereof iiush with its inner bearing-face and fitting against the adjacent vertical face of the body of the journal-box and adapted to slide vertically and laterally thereon, vertical flanges extending from the inner face of the rear section, projecting beyond the inner face of the dust-guard and arranged in the said ways to slide vertically therein, contiguous perforated bosses 10 and 13, located at opposite sides of the journal-box and formed integral with the body and the rear section, and short bolts passing through said bosses and securing the rear section to the body, substantially as described.

2. An axle or journal box comprising a body, provided at opposite sides adjacent to its rear face with vertical iianges forming recesses or ways, and provided with enlargements orbosses lO, havin gvertically-arranged elliptical perforations, a rear section completing` the axle-box, provided at its inner face with a dust-guard chamber and having vertical flanges at opposite sides, fitting against the anges of the body portion and arranged in the recesses or ways formed by the same and provided with vertically-arranged elliptical perforations, fastening devices connecting the rear section to the body portion of the axle or journal box and passing through the said elliptical perforations, the shorter diameter of the perforations being greater than the diameter of the fastening devices, whereby the axle-box will be permitted both a Vertical and a lateral movement, and springs disposed on the fastening devices and yieldingly connecting the parts, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN COLLINS. Vitnesses:

JOHN H. SIGG-Eras, THEoDoRu DALToN.

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